In case you missed it, we just enjoyed the best week of the year! At least that’s how I always remembered Vacation Bible School as a child. It is a truly magical time to hear stories, meet interesting characters like “Lisa Lightyear” and “Pastor Hanna’s Comet”, make cool crafts, learn about missionaries and inflatable waterslides!!! We did not have inflatable water slides when I was a kid. But we did have interesting crafts which, thinking back, might have been a little dangerous. Once we made tin can candle holders. You freeze water inside a bunch of empty cans and give each child a hammer and nails and let them make whatever designs they like! We also made a matchstick cross one year. I think we burned the matches or maybe the leaders did that ahead of time… needless to say, it was a cool craft! The songs were fun and stayed with me. And the memory verses are still ones that I hold in my heart and give me comfort in times of need. The part of VBS that was my very favorite were the missionary stories. Hearing about Dr. Livingstone in Africa, Gladys Aylward and Hudson Taylor in China, and William Carey in India made me want to go to exotic, faraway places and share the love of Jesus with people who had never heard the good news of the cross.

God has given me the gift of traveling to many faraway, exotic places and share the love of Jesus with others. And then God brought me an hour from the place I grew up to a people who need the good news of the cross just as much as people in Asia or Africa. We are called to be missionaries right where we live; to share the love of God to people in our homes, in our schools, at our workplaces, in our neighborhoods and across the globe. It’s not always easy and sometimes it feels dangerous to talk about our faith with other people. But when the Holy Spirit puts a message or a nudge on our hearts, we need to listen and go. The messages this week at VBS are the essence of the gospel!

1. The God who created the universe wants to be in relationship with us.

2. Sin messed everything up, but God is still in control.

3. Jesus is God’s plan. Jesus gave his life to save us from our sin.

4. Even though I mess up, God still loves me and will never leave me.

That’s really all we have to share with people. If they can hear this message from our words and see this message in our actions, we are missionaries.

Let’s keep the fun and joy of VBS throughout the year and keep sharing the good news of God’s love with others.

Heavenly Father, you love us. Help us to trust your love in our lives. Thank you for forgiving our sin. Thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ. Empower us to reach out in love to people around us and people around the world. Bless our mission team as they serve homeless people and hurting people in Portland. Because people matter! Bless our kids going to camp in a couple weeks and give them safety and the life-changing experiences that will lead them in their life of faith. Bless the missionaries around the world and give them your presence and your grace this day and every day. And help us to be missionaries here in the Tri-Cities to share the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ with others. Amen.

July 16 – “Submission and Other Words We Don’t Like”

July 23 – “Living Intentionally and Celebrating Sabbath”

July 30 – “Spiritual Directions”

Aug 6 – “Worship”

Aug 13 – “Confession=Loving Our Neighbors”

Aug 20 – “Serving Our Neighbors”

Aug 27 – “Let’s Party! Celebrating God’s Work in Our Neighborhood.”

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The church is always seeking out trained professionals such as Nurses, Paramedics, and EMT's to volunteer for our BP Sundays. These clinics are held on the second Sunday of the month and provide an opportunity for fellow parishioners to get their blood pressure taken with a trained professional. If you are interested, please contact Raymond Kania, Congregational Care Elder, via email at raykfpc@gmail.com. Thank you and blessings!

Bring the entire family and/or a guest! Bring either a salad or dessert! Pulled Pork Sandwiches provided! Please come and enjoy a time of food and fellowship with all the members of Parish 2. Hope to see you there!

Don’t miss the annual First Pres Day at SplashDown Cove at the Tri-City Court Club. It’s a fun event for the entire family. It’s set for Sunday, August 13, from 4 – 6 p.m. The cost is just $7 per person or $20 per family. There is something for everyone – from a wild ride to floating down a lazy river, to an area of our tinier kiddos! We can bring in “snacks” and food services are available for purchase at the park. Pre-registration is required, so sign up now at the Information Table. Please pre-pay, and sign the release forms. If you have questions, call Mary Lynn Merriman at 735-6229 or email marylynnmerriman@charter.net.

BACKPACK DONATION

School just got out, but we need to prepare for the backpack give away for the next school year. In the pew racks are donation envelopes that direct donations for backpacks. Backpacks cost $10 each. If it is possible, please make a donation.

A list of school supplies needed is on the Information Table.

An Interactive Backpack Event is scheduled for August 26. Guests will be invited into our sanctuary at 9:15 am. A small worship service will start at 9:30 am and a sing-a-long and/or story time will follow as they wait for their turn to select backpacks and have lunch. Other activities are being considered such as a prayer corner. If you have ideas or want to get involved, please contact Kris Kennedy at 547-7292.

Thank you in advance for all your support!

WOMEN'S CRAFT DAY

Women's Ministry is having a CraftDay in the First Pres Center on Saturday, August 12

9 am - 5 pm.

Bring your own projects and a potluck dish for lunch!

Please sign up at the Information Table. For any questions, contact Jeanna Mabry at jmichmabry@hotmail.com or

547-3295.

PATIO/BAKE SALE PLANNING MEETING

Planning Meeting for the Patio/Bake Sale this month! Kindly sign up on the Information Table and let us know what time/date is best for you.

Thank you!

What a generous and giving membership! Blessings to all who helped with the Orcas Encampment. We had taco meat cookers, cookie bakers and the people who worked in the kitchen during the week to feed about 130 people, and all the prayers. Without your help and prayers, the trip would not have run so smoothly. We had an enormous amount of cookies (over 100 dozen), for which, we and those that attended Orcas thank you very much.

~Chris and Bill Thackaberry

Your KFPC Board of Deacons would like to say a resounding THANK YOU for your generous support of our special Deacon Offering last month. Your generosity will enable us to continue our outreach mission of providing food and gas vouchers to the needy as well as provide extra support for our own members in emergency or unusual circumstances. Again thank you so much for your munificence which will allow us to continue to do God’s work in our church and our community.

~Tom Callahan

Deacon Coordinator

Save the date........

Patio & Bake Sale: October 6 & 7, 2017

This will be the only newsletter issued for the month of July and only one issued in August on August 24. Please be sure to check out our Kennewick First Presbyterian Church Facebook page and our website www.kfpc.org for other upcoming events!

FOUND: A pair of black framed prescription glasses with attached beaded holder. Please claim at the church office.